ICEFLASK Gen 1 vs Gen 2: What Qore Performance Changed, and Why It Matters

Generation Comparison

ICEFLASK Gen 1 vs Gen 2What Qore Performance changed, and what it means in the field

The radio-shaped canteen that cools, heats and hydrates has been updated. Gen 2 is lighter, holds more water and has a better cap. Here is what changed, what stayed the same, and whether you should upgrade.

Over 25% Lighter590 ml CapacityMade in USA

When Qore Performance and Redbeard Tactical introduced the ICEFLASK, the idea was simple and clever: a water canteen with the same outside shape as a PRC-152 radio. It slides into radio pouches that many users already have on their carrier, and it does three jobs. Frozen, it cools you. Filled with hot water, it warms you. And at any moment, it is drinking water.

The ICEFLASK quickly became one of Qore's best-selling products. With Gen 2, Qore has not changed the concept. Instead, it refined the details that matter when you carry the canteen every day: weight, volume and the cap. If you want a full introduction to the ICEFLASK and how it works with the rest of the Qore system, read our article ICEFLASK and ICEVENTS: Completing the Qore Performance System. This article focuses only on the differences between the two generations.

Gen 1 vs Gen 2 at a Glance

Gen 1 and Gen 2 weight and capacity figures are taken from Qore Performance's Gen 2 announcement. Dimensions converted from 3 × 10 × 2 inches.

The Four Improvements Explained

Improvement 1

Over 25% lighter

From approx. 150 g to under approx. 110 g empty.

A saving of around 40 g per canteen sounds small, but the ICEFLASK is rarely carried alone. Many users run two on a plate carrier, one on each side, and keep extra canteens in a cooler or pack to swap through the day. With two canteens on the carrier, Gen 2 saves around 80 g of plastic. That is weight you carry on every patrol, every range day and every training exercise, without any loss in function.

Improvement 2

More water in the same shape

From approx. 517 ml to approx. 590 ml maximum.

Gen 2 holds around 73 ml more water, while the outside shape still follows the PRC-152 profile. That is important, because the radio shape is the whole reason the ICEFLASK fits in existing pouches.

Qore lists two volumes for Gen 2: 590 ml as the maximum liquid capacity, and 500 ml as the frozen volume. The difference is not a mistake. Water expands by roughly 9% when it freezes, so a canteen filled to the top has no room left for the ice. In practice, this gives you a simple rule:

• For hydration or heating: fill up to the maximum of approx. 590 ml.
• For cooling: fill to approx. 500 ml before you put it in the freezer.

Improvement 3

A more secure cap

Reinforced tether ring and deeper thread engagement.

A lost cap turns a canteen into an open container. Qore had already added a tethered Closed Cap to later Gen 1 canteens, and Gen 2 takes this further in two ways. The tether ring is reinforced, so the cap stays attached to the canteen. The threads also engage deeper, so the cap holds more securely when you are moving. According to Qore, the cap is still easy to open and close while wearing gloves, which is exactly when a small, fiddly cap becomes a problem.

Improvement 4

Confirmed fit in more pouches

NATO 152 and 163 radio pouches, and more.

Qore now states that Gen 2 fits NATO 152 and 163 radio pouches, cummerbund negative space, plate carrier flanks and the side pockets of assault packs. The goal is the same as with Gen 1: use space that is already part of your loadout, so you do not need to add new pouches or reorganise your kit.

What Stayed the Same

The most important parts of the ICEFLASK did not change, and that is good news for current users.

Qore published cooling and heating figures for the original ICEFLASK: up to 23 W of conductive cooling when frozen, and up to 17 W of heating with hot water. Qore has not published separate figures for Gen 2. Because the recommended frozen volume of Gen 2 is the same 500 ml, the amount of ice against your body is the same as before.

Should You Upgrade From Gen 1?

The honest answer depends on how you use your ICEFLASK.

Tips for Getting the Most From Your ICEFLASK

• Do not overfill before freezing. Keep cooling canteens at approx. 500 ml to leave room for the ice.
• Run more than one. One canteen on each side of the carrier gives more cooling surface. Keep spares in a cooler and rotate them.
• Combine with an ICEPLATE. The ICEFLASK works best as part of a layered system with an ICEPLATE on the back and ICEVENTS for airflow. Our article on ICEFLASK and ICEVENTS explains how the parts work together.
• Use it off the body too. The flat shape makes the ICEFLASK easy to stack in a cool box as a reusable ice block that you can drink once it melts.

ICEFLASK Gen 2 at Gear Town

Questions about which holster or setup fits your carrier? Contact our team at support@geartown.eu.